Video Game Violence

Violent video games have become one of the most popular types of games played today.  Someone can take one the role of a soldier or a mass murderer from their living room, and never feel any of the consequences of taking the life of another. A perfect game to demonstrate this ability would be Grand Theft Auto. See a car you like? Steal it. Someone you don't like? Shoot him. A cop in your way? Blow him up.  And, think nothing of it. The game has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and, of course, it is just supposed to be a fun game.  However, there are a select few that have turned peoples view of the games into breeders of death and destruction.

When we look at this issue, values, norms, and sanctions all play a large role. These terms are related in meaning. Values are the standards by which people define what is desirable, undesirable, good, bad, etc. Norms are expectations and rules/ways of behavior that reflect and enforce values.  Sanctions are the expressions of approval or disapproval given to people for upholding or violating norms. 

Now, I think we can all agree that video games really are played for entertainment, and nothing more.  However, in 2003, Devin Moore (18 years old, at the time) was guilty of a triple homicide of three Alabama policemen. After being in detention for stealing a car, he took the pistol of one of the officers and used it to shoot them all. What is to blame? Well, attorneys say it's because he played Grand Theft Auto day and night for months. "[He] was trained to do what he did. He was given a murder simulator," said Attorney Jack Thompson.  The real question is, was it really the game's fault?

We have to examine Moore's values as a person. After playing that game, did his values of what is good and bad really change due to what he was able to do on the video game?  Did he really think because he can sit in front of his TV and do that, that he could go out in real life and suffer no consequences?  Moore never had any criminal record and was probably raised to understand the norms and sanctions of today's society.  The problem is, while playing Grand Theft Auto, he never experienced any real negative sanctions for the mass murder of cops. Yes, he was probably killed or arrested multiple times on the game, but what do you have to do when that happens?  Just reload the game.  It's that simple.  Moore could have taken that to mean that he could basically do the same thing in real life. These norms, or expectations of how to behave, in the game were now the norms this kid lived by, and he paid for it. In 2005, Moore got probably the largest negative sanction one can receive: the death penalty.

Do I think Grand Theft Auto is to blame for this guy's mistakes?  Not necessarily.  However, I can definitely understand why many people believe that. A multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed against the makers of Grand Theft Auto because of these events, once again claiming that the game was to blame for the kids killing spree. What do you think? Was he raised poorly and/or going through life events that put him over the top? Or is the game responsible, even if just partly?

Sources:

Leung, Rebecca. "Can A Video Game Lead To Murder? - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/04/60minutes/main678261.shtml

Surette, Tim. "Judge Sentences Gamer to Death - News at GameSpot." GameSpot Is Your Go-to Source for Video Game News, Reviews, and Entertainment. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135335.html.

Henslin, James M. Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2007. Print.